Broom bridle



Dec. 6, 1927.

J. BONANNO BROOM BRIDLE Filed June 15, 1927 Patented Dec. 6, 192?.

onrrEi) stares JOSEPH BQNANNO, GRANTWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

BROOM BBIDLE.

Application filed June 15, 1927. Serial No. 199,058.

This invention relates to brushing and scrubbing and more particularly to a bridle for a broom of the'type employed to swee} floors.

One object of the invention is to provide a bridle which may be easily applied to or removed from a broom and when in place will have snug fitting compressing engagement with the head of the broom and very eiiectively brace the same and prevent the broom head from being unduly spread by pressure applied when sweeping.

Another object of the invention is to so form a handle-encircling collar constituting a portion of the bridle that companion sections thereof may have pivotal movement relation to each other and thus allow the bridle to be drawn into very close fitting engagement with opposite side portions of the broom head.

Another object of the invention is to permit thebridle to be formed of companion sections stamped from sheet metal and bent to assume the proper shape.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a view showing a broom in front elevation with the improved bridle applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the broom and bridle;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and r Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

The broom to whichthe bridle has been shown applied is of a conventional construction and includes a handle 1 which may be of any length desired and carries a head 2 of the usual straw construction and braced by the usual cords 3. After a broom has been used for some time, the straws become spread and the broom loses its proper shape and it is to prevent this that the improved bridle constituting the subject-matter of this invention is employed.

This bridle consists of companion sections which are preferably formed of sheet metal, although other materials may be employed and each section comprises an elongated strip 4 which is relatively wide, as shown in Fig. 2, and tapers towards its ends. At its upper end each strip 4 carries a crosshead 5 and at its lower end a crosshead 6. The strips 4 have their upper portions curved portions of the crossheads overlap and are connected by rivets 6 passed through circular openings in their overlapped ends; It will thus be seen that the two crossheads which cooperate to provide a circular collar will be pivotallv connected and allow tilting movement which will permit the strips 4 to be swung towards and away from each other. It should be further noted that .the strips 4 have sufficient resiliency and flexibility to permit them to be moved into close fitting engagement with the edge portions .of the broom head when applied thereto.

The erossheads 6 at the lower ends of the strips 4 are bent transversely in order to provide U-shaped clamps facing inwardly towards each other, as shown in Fig. 4, and adapted to straddle the side portions of the broom head below the cords3. The arms of the clamps are formed with openings 7 adjacent their free ends and these openings receive the hooks 8 formed at the ends of the coiled springs 9. The springs are expanded when the bridle is applied to a broom and, therefore, exert a pulling action upon the clamps and serve to draw the clamps and strips into close binding engagement with the broom head.

When in use, the handle of the broom is passed through the collar and the bridle is moved downwardly upon the broom handle until the collar assumes the position shown in Fig. 1 with the arms or strips 4 extending downwardly along opposite side edge portions of the broom head and the clamps straddle the broom head below the cords 3. If desired, the springs may be released from the arms of one clamp while the bridle is being applied and again engage therewith after the clamps have been disposed in proper straddling relation to the broom head. In view of the fact that the crossheads 5 which constitutethe handle encircling collar are pivotally connected, thetwo sections of the bridle may be very easily moved toward each other into proper binding engagement with the broom head and the bridle will serve very efiectively to brace the broom head but at the same time not cause it to be too stifi to permit the broom to be easily i used. After a broom is worn out, the bridle can be very easily removed and applied to a new broom. v

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A broom-reinforcing bridle comprising a collar to encircle a broom handle and consisting of companion sections curved longitudinally and having their ends overlapped and pivotally connected, strips. extending outwardly and downwardly from; said collar sections, horizontally extending U-shaped clamps carried by said strips to straddle a broom head from opposite sides with their arms extending toward each other, and resilient means extending between the clamps and engagedwith. the arms thereof to draw the clamps and strips into tight binding engagement'with a broom head.

2. A broom reinforcing bridle comprising portion of a broom head and cross heads formed integral with the upper and lower ends of the strip andprojecting transversely therefrom, the upper cross heads of said members being longitudinally curved to extend inwardly and having their ends connected to provide a circular collar to fit about a broom handle, the lower cross heads having their end portions bent inwardly to provide horizontally disposed U-shaped clamps adapted to straddle ,a broom head from opposite sides, and resilient means eX- tending between the clamps and engaged with the arms thereof to draw .the clamps and strips into tight binding engagement with a broom.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

, JOSEPH BONANNO. [Ls-1 

